Gene Simmons: ‘My eyesight’s good. My schmeckle works. What else do you want?’

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy In an anonymous building somewhere in North Hollywood, a handful of roadies stride about tuning guitars in front of an elaborate drum kit bearing the legendary logo: “KISS.” The instruments fall silent in unison to announce the entrance of the band’s hulking 6ft 2in bassist Gene Simmons. “So you guys are going to talk while we’re doing an interview?” huffs Simmons before adding, to no one in particular: “Can you get him out of the room, please?” He turns back to me, muttering: “He knows I know where he lives.” This sort of performative assholery is part of the persona Simmons has cultivated in the almost five decades he’s spent as the fire-breathing demon of Kiss, part rock star and part pantomime villain. “Well, he’s hung like this…” Simmons the gag machine evidently can’t be stopped, but his band can. We’ll get you coming and we’ll get you going.” ‘Gene Simmons Artworks’ is at Animazing Gallery in Las Vegas from 14-16 October